Wonder why this change happened? I know we moved to Kent from London & there were a lot of London overspill doing this in the early 60’s? Were they all aspiring middle-class like my folks, who felt uneasy about their children being dealt with in such an old-fashioned method in a modern age?
And what part did the onset of comprehensives play? I haven’t seen many instances portrayed in these august pages from that source, so maybe that swung the balance-or was it just another case of us Southern Softies getting away with murder?
As for Primary school-sorry to disappoint you, but my mixed SOUTH LONDON primary hardly used it at all. A few smacked legs in class or out in the cloakroom, and, in my year, in 5 1/2 years, I can only think of 2 boys caned once on each hand and 2 girls slippered twice each by the Deputy Headmistress & that is it.